Leica Q typ116 Luigi Custom Camera Case - review by Dale

This youtube video describes my efforts to get a case made for my Leica Q that conforms to the design of other compact camera cases, such as the 18709 for the Leica X1/X2/XE. Unfortunately, my investment of ~$650 USD has not produced a useable case per my spec.

Dale, do you have a shoe or boot repair place nearby? I had a Luigi case for an RX1 that had a back flap I didn't want so I was thinking about cutting it off, having the exposed edges stitched clean, and install some snaps to make it a usable but removable flap. We have a lot of high zoot horse farms in the country around the town I live in and there's a shoe/boot shop a couple blocks from me that specializes in repairing boots and saddles. He gave me an estimate for the work I wanted to have done and it wasn't much. I finally decided not to do it because I was happy enough with the case with the flap in place (to my surprise it really didn't get in the way when I shot with it). But I'd seen the work this guy does and I know this would have been an incredibly quick job for him, I'm sure someone like that in your area could easily shorten that tunnel up for you, either by removing the top cap and cutting it down or removing the whole piece and cutting it from the base...

They do such incredible work and their cases are so nice in use, it would be worth it to get it to your liking...

Thanks y'all - from what I hear there are such people in South Carolina, which I will look up before long. It won't be mail order because from my experience so far, the master craftsmen have real trouble with precise specifications, even when they have the exact camera on hand to fit it.

That should be very fixable, especially given your investment. There are many leather workers around for anything from shoes to jackets. For example:http://www.leathersmith.com

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Thanks for the suggestion. If you saw my video you'd see Luigi's exquisite craftsmanship. It's just the failure to follow instructions that killed it. Sending the case to anyone isn't feasible since they don't have the Leica Q, and making certain of the fit long distance is a crapshoot. If someone in or near my state can detach and reattach the "cap" that's stitched onto the case's lens tube, then the rest will be simple in just cutting an inch from the tube.

Luigi had his own Q, and he sent me photos of his camera with the case. That's why the very precise fit to the body. After completing the case, he said that he thought the body fit was too tight, and would I like him to make another case that fit a bit looser, and I said no - a tight fit is perfect.

BTW, if I had sent the Q to Luigi, with me paying insurance and shipping and import fees, it probably would have raised the cost from $650 to nearly $3000 - or more.

Luigi had his own Q, and he sent me photos of his camera with the case. That's why the very precise fit to the body. After completing the case, he said that he thought the body fit was too tight, and would I like him to make another case that fit a bit looser, and I said no - a tight fit is perfect.

BTW, if I had sent the Q to Luigi, with me paying insurance and shipping and import fees, it probably would have raised the cost from $650 to nearly $3000 - or more.

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I figured it would cost to send the Q, but I did not expect Luigi to have his own.

I figured it would cost to send the Q, but I did not expect Luigi to have his own.

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He got his Q just after taking my order, so it's either a coincidence or my order inspired him to have one on hand for other fittings. Given the variety of cases he makes, it makes sense for him to have the different body sizes and shapes for a good fit. In my case, I believe it was the very first case he made with that lens cover like the Leica compact camera cases.

Too bad that it didn't work out for you, Dale. Other than the size of the lens tube, this case does look beautiful. Which should make it worth it having a leather shop having a go at it. Better to spend some more dollars, than have these dollars go around unused.

That case is beautiful. Shame Luigi made the lens cover so deep. Is it possible that this case also fits another camera with a longer lens and he's using it for two different models?

I would not let that $650 go to waste. I'd find a custom leather artist near you and spend the dough to make it right. Or if you're sour on it now, I'd list on eBay and recoup a big chunk of it. I'm sure there are others who own the Q and would love a Luigi case for it. Of course, I'd take down your youtube video before selling it.

I may get around to that sometime, but the purpose of this thread is to save others from making the same mistake.

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Then again, yours might be the one he learns from. We had a pretty massive first floor remodel done in the Summer of 2014. A neighbor with the same basic condo model had done one about 8 months earlier and we liked it so much that we hired the same folks to do a very similar job with some different design details. As much as we liked what they did on our neighbor's place, they got some details so much more RIGHT on ours, just for having one under their belt already. When our neighbors came over and saw ours, they continued to be sort of flattered that we based our design on what they'd done, but they were frankly a little bummed at how much better some of the details of ours came out than theirs had. Luigi does really good work. If he knows what he did wrong on yours, I kind of doubt he'd make the same mistake on the next one. Now if it's another one-off, that's something different - probably new mistakes to be made on a whole new project...

That case is beautiful. Shame Luigi made the lens cover so deep. Is it possible that this case also fits another camera with a longer lens and he's using it for two different models?

I would not let that $650 go to waste. I'd find a custom leather artist near you and spend the dough to make it right. Or if you're sour on it now, I'd list on eBay and recoup a big chunk of it. I'm sure there are others who own the Q and would love a Luigi case for it. Of course, I'd take down your youtube video before selling it.

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Luigi declared in one or more of his messages that he intended the extra length for filters or other extensions. I made it clear that that was unacceptable for my case, but I can see from his messages and the fact that he acquired a Leica Q himself, that he has plans to make more of those, for the Q. We have other cameras here - the Canon G3x for example, that fit the bottom part and *should* also fit the lens area, but when pulling the flap over the lens to close the case, the G3x lens is blocked by just a small amount. So the possibilities are endless...

Then again, yours might be the one he learns from. We had a pretty massive first floor remodel done in the Summer of 2014. A neighbor with the same basic condo model had done one about 8 months earlier and we liked it so much that we hired the same folks to do a very similar job with some different design details. As much as we liked what they did on our neighbor's place, they got some details so much more RIGHT on ours, just for having one under their belt already. When our neighbors came over and saw ours, they continued to be sort of flattered that we based our design on what they'd done, but they were frankly a little bummed at how much better some of the details of ours came out than theirs had. Luigi does really good work. If he knows what he did wrong on yours, I kind of doubt he'd make the same mistake on the next one. Now if it's another one-off, that's something different - probably new mistakes to be made on a whole new project... -Ray

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From the emails I've gotten, it seems Luigi still believes in his design, to allow room for filters and other things, so I doubt that there is any learning outside of possibly sniffing out any of the rare customers who would demand what I did. And I hope he does clarify that for other orders, just in case.